VART 3626

Photography 101

Lecture 3 –Light / Elements and Principles of Art

VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 2

“Light falls. Just make sure it falls in your favour.”

Joe McNally, American Photographer

Light

20/02/2023 Example Presentation 3

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Understanding the nature of light

• Quantity
• Quality
• Source
• Direction
 How Photographers
describe light

• Quantity (intensity)
• Quality (Soft Vs Harsh)
• Color (temperature)
• Direction

Photo © Christian Berg, 2017 for the New York Times

Quantity
 Color Balance

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Color of Light - early morning

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Color of Light - mid day

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Color of Light - over cast

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Color of Light - golden hour

photo © Christian Berg

Color of Light - dusk
Color of Light – against the sun
 Color of Light - night

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Light bounces – using a flash on
the ceiling

to © Christian Berg, 2009

 Side light

photo © Christian Berg

 Front light /
fill light

Photo © Christian Berg

 Fill in with flash
in daylight

photo © Loïc Bertrand-Chichester

 Exposure - short or long

Photo © Christian Berg, 2009

Aperture - small aperture

photo © Christian Berg

 Aperture - wide open

Photo © Christian Berg, 2018

Focus point (depth)
Reflection
silhouette
Low Key
High key
Exposure Compensation

RMIT International University Vietnam

The Elements and Principles of Art

20/02/2023 Example Presentation 28

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Discussion
• Have you seen this picture before?
• Do you know the artist?
• What is special about this painting?
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 30

The Elements of Art

• “The elements of art are components or parts of a work of art that can be
isolated and defined. They are the building blocks used to create a work of
art. ”

Example Presentation
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The Elements of Art

• Line
• Shape
• Form
• Value
• Space
• Color
• Texture
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Line
An element of art defined by a point moving in space. Line may be two-or
three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.
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Shape
An element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width.
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Form
An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes
height, width AND depth (as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder).
Form may also be free flowing.
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Value
• The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value;
black is the darkest. The value halfway between these extremes is called
middle gray.
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Space
An element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense
of depth achieved in a work of art .
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Color
• An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity.
• • Hue: name of color
• • Value: hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s when white or value
changes black is added)
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Texture
An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel
if touched.
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The Principles of Art

• “The principles of art are an organized way that the elements of art are
arranged in a work of art. ”
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The Principles of Art

• Rhythm
• Balance
• Emphasis (Contrast)
• Proportion
• Gradation
• Harmony
• Variety
• Movement
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 41

Rhythm
A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful
placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or
beat.
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 42

Balance
A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a
work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical.
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 43

Emphasis (Contrast)
• A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those
elements.
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 44

Proportion
A principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the
whole and to each other.
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 45

Gradation
A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those
elements. (large shapes to small shapes, dark hue to light hue, etc)
 VART 3626 - Photography 101 Lecture 3 46

Harmony
A way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities
(achieved through use of repetitions and subtle gradual changes)
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Variety
A principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. Variety is achieved by
using different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.
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Movement
A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide
the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.